The Common Cold

I am getting so many emails from readers thanking me for the apple cider vinegar cold remedy. Keep sipping… apple cider vinegar works effectively because the body turns alkaline when you’re sick, and the acid in the vinegar works to counter that action. Here’s a recipe or a Virgin Hot Toddy that really makes the vinegar easier to take. Plus, I’ve learned, that if you lie down and put a drop of hydrogen peroxide in your ear, the congestion in you ears and chest improves dramatically.

Why the old-fashioned way? Look at the latest report from the MayoClinic.com on cough syrups: “ The American College of Chest Physicians strongly discourages the use of (cough syrups) because these medications are not effective at treating the underlying cause of cough due to colds. Some contain ingredients that may alleviate coughing, but the amounts are too small to do much good and may actually be harmful for children.

Coughs and Sore Throats
Stopping the cough is essential to helping everyone sleep; the one who is coughing needs the rest more than anyone. So if cough syrup is out, here are some alternatives:

Apple cider vinegar, just rub it on the chest, and the feet. (Anything applied to the bottom of the feet are absorbed quickly and dispersed throughout the body.) No, it doesn’t smell great, but coughs don’t sound great at 2 a.m. either. The vinegar thins the mucus so it doesn’t collect and sit in the chest. My Grandma used to soak a piece of brown paper in vinegar and to put the pepper side on my chest, and cover it with a warm towel, and to be still. This does stop a cough within 10-15 minutes, and takes the pain away from the most painful sore throat. And you won’t hurt anyone with this, as apple cider is good for the skin and the joints.

At the first sign of a cold, take 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water several times a day. The body becomes more alkaline during a cold and the vinegar will help to re-balance the body’s acid level.

Nasal Irrigation: Colds need to drain. Stay away from antihistamines – they essentially “dry” your sinuses, which is what you want for allergies. For a cold, you want the mucus to flow. So, salt-water rinses accomplish just that. Combine 1 cup of warm water to 1 tablespoon of salt. For adults, you can use a Himalayan Institute Original Neti Pot, or a bulb syringe. This also helps allergies. A Pennsylvania State University study found that nasal irrigation could also prevented people from catching a cold.

Essential Oils are not perfume. These oils are very potent, as they are volatile, highly concentrated plant extracts, that have both antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties.

Don’t forget to consult your doctor.